ADHD & Hyper-Focus Part III

ADHD & Hyper-Focus

This commentary examines the nature of and evidence for a frequently cited benefit of ADHD, especially in adults – that being “hyper-focusing (HF).” Despite its widespread belief, this relationship has not been explored much in the scientific literature, with less than 8 studies being identified. The results are conflicting, depending on whether the study used people who just had high symptoms of ADHD, and not the disorder, compared to studies of clinically diagnosed individuals who had the full disorder (symptoms and impairments). In general, there does seem to be a significant relationship between ADHD and HF when ADHD is measured as rated symptoms. But in clinically diagnosed people the results are conflicting, with one study finding the relationship and another not. And while HF is often presented as a benefit or gift of ADHD, there are suggestions in some studies that it also has a more negative side, being related to risk for internet addiction and certain types of offending behavior. So, the claim that ADHD is definitely linked to hyper-focusing and that it is a positive trait is not definitively established at this time. More research is clearly needed but such claims of HF as being widespread among those with ADHD, and entirely a benefit, cannot be taken on face value as an established fact. I explore this issue in three videos.

Part III I assume that, perhaps for the sake of argument, those with ADHD may engage in hyper-focusing more than typical people, although that remains to be demonstrated convincingly in research. I then discuss some larger issues that might raise, such as how can someone with a short attention span and who is easily distractible also be able to hyper-focus for extended periods of time. Because ADHD is not an attention disorder but a self-regulation disorder and both inattention and hyper-focus can reflect poorly regulated attention. I also discuss if hyper-focusing is a good thing or bad thing, or both. It depends on the context.

[AmandaJuneHagarty]

One of the things I have been figuring out having ADHD is the whole concept of being "productive". The first thing I did upon discovwring this part of me was to start trying to make a productivity plan. I made a second Google calendar and started planning every microsecond of my day, and then I took a long look at it and realized this was a good way to drive me crazy or burn out. So I started exploring the idea of not being "productive". I told myself "it's ok to be bored" and I practiced sitting in a spot and just looking at a painting or a spot on the wall and reminded myself that if I wasn't constantly "doing something" the world would not end. Just doing that a couple times has helped tremendously. When I am talking to someone and I get the impulse to keep my mind busy by thinking about other things while the other person is talking, I can remind myself to "practice boredom" to stay in the moment with them. So I think that the relationship between ADHD and productivity is complicated. I have trouble with being productive on one level, and on the other level I have trouble not always pushing myself to be more productive. But now that I have my diagnosis at least I can realize it's and issue and say "ok, so what should I do about it" and start making changes.

[Brad-cbdt]

I can also get stuck on one aspect of a problem when problem solving. I’m prone to “bang my head against a wall, ” trying to force something to work, when I really need to go back to the drawing board. Even if I’m hyper fixated on something “good” like work, it can still be a detriment.

It’s also immensely rewarding to dive deep into a recreational activity.

I’ve certainly heard people often say, “if someone could harness their hyper focus, imagine the results.” In reality, it just an aspect of poor regulation. I’ve definitely harnessed it before, but it’s like trying harness wind from a tornado. You never truly know where it will happen, how long it will last, if it will result in collateral damage, etc.

[oakenleif]

My son has been diagnosed with Adhd but the more i hear you speak of hyper focusing the more I see my past and present behavior layed put before me. Thank you so much for sharing.

[jamiejohnson]

I've started a fun side gig that paid my rent with the hyper-focusing, while ignoring my school work. I wouldn't describe it as a benefit since it's not goal directed, and so what you're diverting attention to isn't always beneficial. I think I just got lucky and happened to be able to monetize what I focused on. And honestly, someone might have accomplished what I did without the need to hyper-focus anyway.

I get the sense that the attention hyper-fixation as a benefit to ADHD is an attempt to look for a silver lining. In myself, I think of it as prolonged procrastination.

[Elspm]

I find it far easier to conceptualise basically every single one of my symptoms or traits as a regulation issue, and to explain my ADHD to the people around me that way.

I think this lack of definition on what hyperfocus is really does not help to study it. I tend to only use it when I am discussing a very particular phenomenon - where I am absorbed in a task that feels urgent and captures my attention wholly. If I'm disturbed in this state I can be pretty damn rude. It's the reason I gave up playing new video games, particularly where they have no apparent end. It's often not enjoyable, and is most useful for tasks that I have been putting off to the last minute. It feels like a real motor is diriving me.

Flow, I use for something far more relaxed - yes my attention is fully captured but in a relaxed slow way, like when I paint. I can lose hours to it, it can be hard to step away from, but the urgency piece isn't there.

I can't really control either of these states, but I would say in both cases I'd be in genuine danger of sitting through a fire going on around me. I've missed my train stop on several occasions even in what I call the flow state - and when I'm doing something physical like embroidery my husband needs to literally touch me to snap me out of it.

[CHKrause]

Another brilliant presentation! Now just to figure out how to cajole my poor child brain to focus more often on the things my my adult cognition can recognise as most important....

[lurkery]

I was diagnosed with ADHD about a year ago at 36. Before my diagnosis I was convinced I was stupid, because I could not get things done. Then I was found to be closer to gifted than stupid, but that made me more confused as I still couldn’t get things done.

Viewing ADHD as an executive function impairment has explained a lot of my behavior that has previously been misdiagnosed or misunderstood, especially my rage as a child and my emotional intensity.

My experience with Hyperfocus in particular is as you describe, it really depends on if it “activates” on something that is beneficial or not, and if there are more urgent or important tasks that get ignored.

As you have mentioned previously, viewing Hyperfocus as perseveration has been useful in my understanding of this behavior. Especially since Hyperfocus is not voluntary.

My experience with Hyperfocus or perseveration isn’t limited to states of focused behavior, I also experience what I can only describe as thought-based hyperfocus or perseveration after being engrossed in a topic for a long time. Like an echo or ripple effect.

This again comes into play with my other ADHD symptoms, particularly in social situations where I have a tendency to be distracted or pre-occupied by thoughts of the topic of my previous hyperfocus.

Despite my best efforts not to, I sometimes bring the subject for discussion. I know I should not, but I do it anyway. Then my emotional dysregulation comes into play in my evaluation of how me bringing up this topic was received.

In my view Hyperfocus is just another symptom of impaired self-regulation, and part of the executive dysfunction chain.

[hanskraut]

Man its actually amazing that someone sees through Hyper-Focus, Creativity and the "high motivated/energetic people" ha sure.... in ur dreams. Great video, like you said does not mean the individual is not highly gifed some humans just have massive impact on the wellbeaing of the world population throught history, and does not mean there is nothing positive in some sense that is not yet discovered but so far i highly

[ATLFosterDogs]

For me, hyper focus is just a symptom of my time blindness. When I'm working on something interesting, like a big research and writing project, I don't notice the passage of time and have trouble pulling myself away. I'll work all day and skip meals. However, I'll do this work at the expense of other, shorter tasks that I need to be doing to move my work along, like writing letters and emails.

[_Kathrin_]

i guess the term hyperfocus may shape how we see some of our hyperfocus tendencies (more focussed if you will) for me this is more of a vague cluster of effects that opposes the cluster of more chaotic foggy states of my mind. There is this sort of short time focussed state for me, for hours, but not days, and i can't really control what it applies to or when. But compared to the chaotic or foggy states of the brain it feels like such a relief/comfort so that probably makes me double down on that state bc it's sort of my life raft on an unruly sea 😅.

But there is also a long term version of it for me where there are some topics that really capture my interest in such an intense and long lasting way that they are relatively dependable to light the fire of my hyperfocus when i do sth related to it. It's not all stuff that i find interesting (although all those are easier to focus on) but sort of the top 10% of interesting things. But those things can be longer term by the virtue of the stimulus being a longer term thing if that makes sense? idk. but they can certainly also distract from important things.

for the record i have diagnosed adhd but i am one of those non-representative colledge educated ppl and the severity of my symptoms is definitely not in the highest part of the curve (although i am struggling enough as is so yk, i am not complaining😅)

[welcomeization]

Waiting to find out if I have ADHD (assessment in June), but ''hyperfocus'' is something I do. I'm diagnosed autistic so might be explained by this too. I hyperfocus on interesting tasks but at the expense of tasks I should be doing - cleaning, forms, organizing etc. It can be positive - offsets my anxiety (I have OCD). But it also means the house gets dirty and I can't attend to anything else. I hasten to add that I can't hyperfocus if there's any extraneous noise in my environment, then I struggle to focus and it's very stressful.

[dawnkeyy]

You speak of visual short term memory playing a role in motivation. What would be the implications of this in someone with aphantasia?

[SpecialEdDHD]

Hyper focus is great until you exercise so intensely that your body is run down and broken by 40. Or an artist who can't draw anymore because they developed nerve damage from non-stop drawing.

[Bertie_Ahern]

ADHD is not a "disorder of self-regulation" either. Nobody 'regulates' what they find interesting, neurotypicals or otherwise. We simply find most things more boring than your standard neurotypical, unless that thing happens to be novel or exciting in a way that appeals to us individually. And when we do find that 'thing', it feeds us like nothing else in a most addictive way, hence the 'hyperfocus', until it's no longer novel or interesting. But self-regulation? No, that's not really what this is fundamentally about.

[nicolesnyder]

I am a huge Dr. Barkley fan for many years HOWEVER I want to remind everyone that he, by his own admission, is funded by big pharma, so we must keep in mind that he is not paid to find advantages of ADHD, quite the opposite. Notice in this vid he fails to mention the other disorder (syndrome actually ) that was the “inattentive type” that will be eliminated from ADHD in the next DSM. One has to wonder why he would use old studies not allowing for this new finding that a substantial amount of people diagnosed with ADHD, actually do not have ADHD or even a disorder but an entirely different syndrome.
I look forward to the studies on ADHD AFTER the people who don’t have it are removed from the equation. In the meantime, keep this in mind when listening to Dr. Barkley’s opinion.